Sports Broncos

Broncos' Bolles 'week to week' with lower left leg bruise

Offensive tackle injured on a run play in the third quarter

By Nick Kosmider

The Denver Post

Posted:
09/18/2017 09:13:37 PM MDT

Menelik Watson (75) hugs Garett Bolles (72) of the Denver Broncos before being carted off the field after being hurt on a play in the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys. (John Leyba / The Denver Post)

The pain on his face seemed to match the pain throbbing from his lower left leg. Broncos rookie left tackle Garett Bolles fought back tears Sunday afternoon as he sat on the back of a cart at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, blowing a kiss and waived to the crowd as he was driven toward the locker room.

On Monday, the Broncos let out a sigh of relief.

Bolles suffered a lower left leg bruise during Sunday's 42-17 victory over Dallas and is considered "week to week," coach Vance Joseph said.

Bolles was injured during a Jamaal Charles run near the goal line in the third quarter when he appeared to get tangled up with the right leg of Dallas defensive lineman Brian Price. Bolles stood up gingerly and immediately signaled for Broncos trainers, who attended to the 6-foot-5, 298-pound lineman for several minutes before he was removed from the field on a cart. An emotional Bolles was consoled by teammates before he left the field.

After the game, Bolles left the stadium on crutches with a boot around his left ankle. He was still using the crutches inside the team's facility Monday but was no longer wearing the boot.

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Bolles had played in every snap at left tackle this season before the injury. The first-round pick out of Utah had a couple breakdowns in pass protection during the season opener against the Chargers, but he was performing well against the Cowboys before suffering the injury. Bolles had allowed one sack and three quarterback hurries in 70 pass-block snaps through six-plus quarters, according to Pro Football Focus.

"We love Garett and he's been doing a great job. A rookie starting at left tackle in this league, that's tough to do," defensive lineman Domata Peko said. "We'll all be praying for him and hopefully it's a speedy recovery for him."

Donald Stephenson, who started 12 games for Denver last season, was the immediate replacement at left tackle for Bolles on Sunday, but the Broncos later inserted veteran Allen Barbre into the spot. Barbre, whom the Broncos acquired from Philadelphia in a trade at the start of training camp, has been sharing time at left guard with Max Garcia, but Barbre has spent much of his 10-year career at tackle.

"He did fine. He held his own, blocked his guy," Joseph said of Barbre. "He had one issue with a cross stunt, but he's an experienced player and that's why he's here with us. He can play right tackle, left tackle, left guard or right guard. He's a guy who is very valuable to our offensive line."

Joseph wouldn't reveal Monday who the Broncos would start at left tackle against Buffalo on Sunday in the likely event that Bolles is unable to play.

"We have lots of options that I won't share today," Joseph said. "We have lots of options where we can insert guys and take guys out of certain spots and put somebody in at left tackle. Again, it's a lower leg bruise, he's week-to-week and we'll cross that bridge when we have to."

Pass protection has been one of few weak areas for the Broncos through two games. Quarterback Trevor Siemian has been sacked six times, including a takedown by Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in the second quarter Sunday that resulted in a fumble that Dallas recovered near the goal line.

But Joseph downplayed concern about the offensive line after Sunday's game while passing credit to Lawrence, who beat right tackle Menelik Watson for both of Dallas' sacks.

"It's a tough league in terms of edge rushers," he said. "Lawrence is a great pass rusher and he won some, we won some. That's the way it's going to go. It won't be perfect blocking pass rushers. They're so good right now, so I'm pleased with our offensive line. Our run blocking was excellent, and our pass protection, you win some and you lose some."

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